VICS lobbying working group
Introduction
The purpose of the lobbying committee is to campaign on issues which are felt to be particularly important to the VICS members. These include:
- encouraging private and public organisations to make their products and services more accessible
- Producing submissions on behalf of VICS to various bodies when appropriate
- Promoting the views of the visually impaired in the area of Information Technology
Over the years the lobbying Committee has tackled topics as diverse of electronic voting and inaccessible websites. Some of the notable successes are:
- Introduction of the first ever accessible ATM machine in Ireland
- Creation of a document outlining the advantages of accessible ATM machines for both the financial institutions and their customers
- Improvements to the bus timetables on the Dublin Bus website
- Continuing work with Irish Rail on Their website
- Production of an accessible telephone directory for members on CD
- Submission to the Commission on Electronic Voting
- Submission to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland on the issue of the future of digital Television
- Response of VICS to the sectoral plan of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
Ongoing work:
The committee continues to work with the Various banks, encouraging them to introduce fully accessible ATM Machines. We are also looking into the possibility of introducing a grant which would allow visually impaired people, not in fulltime employment, to acquire assistive technology.
If you have ideas or issues you would like the lobbying group to look into please contact tim.culhane at vicsireland.org.